Hearns vs McCallum at 154

Of all the great "could have been" fights, this is one of the ones we could'v seen the most. Who do you think takes this?

 

McCallum won a sparring match between the 2.

 

Hearns by close decision.He was the slightly better boxer in my opinion.

 

Hearns would handle him as long as he fought a smart measured fight. He'd work behind the jab and tie Mike up if he got to close. But gain he would have to stick to a disciplined fight.
As far as the sparring match on YouTube I thought Hearns handled him pretty handily.

 

Manny seemed to think otherwise. He trained both, and he seems to think that Mike had the tools to get the job done. I don't think Hearns "handled him pretty easy at all"

 

Looks to me like he was in controle of that sparring session the entire time

 

Yeah, I didn't really see it that way. I don't think anybody won per se, both had their moments, but to you could tell that Mike's body work would pay dividends down the road in an actual fight.

 

McCallum always thought he could beat Hearns. But Julian Jackson had McCallum seriously hurt early.
McCallum just came along at the wrong time to fit into Fabulous Four Group.

 

Hearns decision.

 

Hearns close decision.

 

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Hearns builds a lead with his superior hand and foot speed.

McCallum moves forward and works the body

McCallum easily absorbs Hearn's best right hands, just as Luigi Minchillo, Murray Sutherland and Doug DeWitt did.

During the middle rounds, McCallum increases his tempo and gets inside more and more. He works Hearns over on the ropes repeadedly. Around the 12th, round, McCallum unleases a brutal left hook and Hearns, his legs going, sags into the ropes. McCallum pours in punches on a defenseless Hearns and the referee stops the fight with Hearn sitll standing, but thoroughly beaten.

Hearns, for all this talent and atheletic gifts, simply lacked resilence. A complete fighter could expose him. Mike McCallum , in his prime at 154 lbs, was a complete fighter.

 

Yep. That's how I see it.

 

NO he didn't. Hearns could have easily fought him in tthe 84-86 time frame.

In mid '86, Hearns chose to face no hoper Mark Medal in defense of his WBC 154 lb title.

I am sure McCallum tried mightily to get a fight with post-Hagler, jaded Hearns.

And Jackson didn't seriously hurt McCallum. He momenatrily stopped McCallum in his tracks. But, McCallum quickly recovered and overwelmed him the very next round - like a champion.

 

Thomas Hearns prior to Hagler beats Mike by UD.. Too fast with a good jab. Everyone thinks of Hearns post Hagler, and the pre Hagler Hearns, beats mike rather easily.